Cavaliers reportedly offered Chauncey Billups below-market salary

— July 6, 2017

The Cavaliers were reportedly not ready to show Chauncey Billups the money.

According to ESPN, Cleveland offered Billups a salary of $ 2 million annually to be the team’s president of basketball operations. The salary offered is viewed as below average for an NBA front-office executive.

A typical starting salary for someone in this role is around $ 4 million, ESPN reports. David Griffin, the former Cavs general manager, made less than $ 2 million a year with the team — among the lowest GM salaries in the league.

Part of the reason why Billups turned down the Cavaliers job was reportedly the salary. LeBron James did not factor into his decision, Billups told The Undefeated.

Ex-Cavs GM David Griffin to interview for Knicks presidency

“First and foremost, my family was 100% behind me taking the job,” Billups said. “It didn’t come down to that at all. At the end of the day, after carefully looking at the entire situation, I just felt it wasn’t the time. It’s that simple. I’ve got a ton of respect for Dan and the Cavs organization. But now just wasn’t the time.”

Despite Billups having no front-office experience, this hasn’t stopped teams in the past from dishing out tons of cash.

When the Knicks brought in Phil Jackson as their president of basketball operations, the Zen Master signed a five-year, $ 60 million deal with the team. The Knicks have since dumped Jackson, but he walked away with a hefty paycheck.

Just as the Knicks are continuing their search for a new team president, it’s now back to the drawing board for James and the Cavaliers.